The dining chair project

The museum is undertaking an object reconstruction project that will ensure that visitors continue to enjoy the unique heritage of the Old Parliament House building and its collection.

The project involves reconstructing some of the dining room chairs used in the Members’ Dining Room. The Members’ Dining Room provided dining and recreation facilities for both members and senators and played an important role in the Commonwealth Parliament, Government and nation hosting Royal visits, official State receptions and formal dinners for important guests.

Originally the chairs were designed by the building’s architect John Smith Murdoch to be used within the Members’ Dining Room and to complement the architecture of the space. The continuous use of the chairs over 84 years has seen a gradual decline in their condition. The project involves reconstructing the chairs to ensure that their structural integrity is sound and they remain useable for many years.

The chairs are significant furniture items and are part of the heritage collection which comprises those pieces of furniture which were used in Provisional Parliament House between 1924 and 1988. Having them in the Members’ Dining Room means that visitors can use the space for which it was intended and enjoy the heritage experience of both the building and its collection. The connection of the room with its furniture is essential in maintaining the significance of the space. The collection consists of 278 Members’ Dining Room chairs that have the design number FB31. The chairs consist of maple timber structure, with a red leather padded back, drop-in seat of horseshoe shape with horsehair, that sits on tapering square section front legs with brass capped feet.

The museum is committed to undertaking projects that ensure the long term protection and enjoyment of the collection and that the significance of the Old Parliament House building is communicated through its use and interpretation.